Calif. Governor Vetoes Bill Stating Child Can Have More Than Two Parents

The governor of California has opted to veto a bill that would have allowed judges to state that a child can have more than two parents.

Governor Jerry Brown vetoed SB 1476, issuing a statement on Sunday that while he sympathizes with the bill's intentions, he is concerned about unintended consequences of the legislation.

"I am troubled by the fact that some family law specialists believe the bill's ambiguities may have unintended consequences," wrote Brown. "I am returning Senate Bill 1476 without my signature … I would like to take more time to consider all of the implications of this change."

Ron Prentice, CEO for the California Family Council, told The Christian Post that his organization was one of many that had called on California citizens to contact the legislature and the governor to oppose the bill.

"We held out hope that Gov. Brown would veto this bill due to his own definition of two-parent families. Like so many other bills generated by the California Legislature, SB 1476 was a step too far," said Prentice.

"Even Gov. Brown, who endorses same-sex marriage, thought this bill and the expanded redefinition of parentage too complex and ambiguous to sign into law."

SB 1476 was introduced by Democratic State Senator Mark Leno of San Francisco in February. It passed the State Senate in May with a vote of 24 to 13 and the State Assembly in August, 51 to 26.

"This bill would reaffirm a family court judge's ability to recognize parent-child relationships based on the evidence and what is in the best interests of the child," reads an entry from Sen. Leno's website. "The bill modernizes state law by giving courts the flexibility to protect children who have parent-child relationships with more than two people."

The legislation was supported by various gay rights groups, including the National Center for Lesbian Rights, over its relevance to custody battles pertaining to homosexual couples.

Cathy Sakimura, Family Protection Project director for NCLR, said in a statement that they were disappointed by Gov. Brown's decision.

"We appreciate that the Governor recognized that the needs of children with more than two parents should be addressed by the legislature, but we are disappointed that he vetoed this important bill," said Sakimura.

"We look forward to co-sponsoring this bill again next year and working with the Governor's office and other stakeholders to ensure that the children in these families do not continue to go unprotected and that California law recognizes and protects all families."

Prentice of the California Family Council told CP that he also expected the bill to resurface in the near future.

"We fully expect a bill of this type to return, as there are several homosexual legislators and special interest groups with clear intent to deconstruct traditions of marriage and parenting," said Prentice.